Corkscrew



y (No Model.)

G. MEERROTH GURKSGRBW.

Patented Nov. 28, 1898.

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NUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MEERRO'IH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CoRKscREw.

SFECIFIMCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,819, dated November 28, 1893. Application tiled DotoberZZ. 1892. Serial No. 449,662. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES MEERROTH, of Philadelphia. in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certatn new and useful Improvements in Corkscrews; and I-do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled 1n the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to an improvement in cork-screws, the object being to provide a cheap and simple device capable of being folded into small compass when not in use, and constructed to withstand the strain to which the ordinary portable cork-screws are subjected.

With these ends in View my invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully described and pointed out in the claim. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved cork-` screw. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the handle, showing the screw in its open or operative position. Fig. 3 is a View in longitudinal section through the handle showing the screw in its closed position, and Fig. i is a view.

A represents the handle preferably cylindrical in form and preferably provided at one end with a hinged plug ot adapted to close said end of the handle for the purpose of holding the screw in its closed position. The other end of the handle is preferably closed by a xed cap or plug, but this is not essential as this end might be left open if desired. The handle is preferably made of sheet metal, and is provided with a slot d extending from a point slightly beyond the longitudinal center of the handle to the end thereof carrying the plug a. This slot is sufficiently wide for the free passage of the shank of Vthe screw as will hereinafter be explained. The handle A is also provided on the side diametrically opposite the open slot d with the short slot d adapted to receive the end of the shank of the screw when the latter is in its open or operative position.

Located within the handle A and near the center thereof are the abutments E, which latter are engaged by the pintles e on the shank of the screw and limit the movement of the screw when the latter is moved longitudinally preparatory to turning it from its closed to its 5 5 open position. The screw E is slightly shorter than the handle Aand is preferably provided with a stein rectangular in cross section. This stem or shank is as before stated provided at its inner end with pintles e which latter rest 6o between abutments E and the closed end f of the handle A. The slot d extends from the open endf of the handle to a point beyond the abutments E, and hence when the screw is moved longitudinally in the handle toward the open end, the pintles engage the abutments and limit the movement of the screw. Vhen the pintles are in engagement with the abutlnents the shank of the screw restsin line with the slot, the screw being beyond the end 7o of the handle; the screw can now be turned to a position at right angles to the handle and locked in such position by the sleeve G, which latter is mounted on the handle so as to turn thereon and is provided with an L-shaped open slot gadapted to register with the slot d and with a closed slot g over the slot d. The screw is locked by simply turning the sleeve so as to bring the shank of the screw within the short member of the L-shaped slot 8o in the sleeve, thus closing the slotd immediately adjacent to the stem and preventing the closing of the screw. V'Vhen the screwis turned to its operative position the inner end of the shank or stem passes through slots d', g. To \8 5 close the screw the sleeve G is turned until the long member of the L-shaped slot is in line with the slot d. This leaves the screw free to be turned to its closed position, after which it is moved back longitudinally into the han- 9o die, and the plug or cap closed, thus preventing the screw from moving longitudinally.

In this cork screw no springs or other parts liable to be injured when subjected to heavy strains are used, and the means employed by me for holding the screw in its open or operative position are extremely simple, not liable to get out of order and effectually lock the screw against displacement.

tion and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention and hence Iwould have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular It is evident that changes in the construcroo construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, but,

Having fully described my invention, what movements by the stop, and a turn sleeve on the handle, said sleeve having,r a slot therein constructed to receive and hold the screw in operative position when the sleeve is turned in one of its positions, Ysubstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES MERROTH.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. SPEAKMAN, HENRY SPEAKMAN. 

